Indian Desert

Notes

The Indian (Thar) Desert lies to the west of the Aravallis, mainly in Rajasthan (about 60% of the State) and extends into Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab and into Pakistan. It is one of the largest hot subtropical deserts in the world.

Climate: annual rainfall below 150 mm in the west (up to 500 mm in the east), very high summer temperatures, large daily range of temperature. Reasons: the Aravallis lie parallel to the south-west monsoon, so the Arabian Sea branch passes without giving rain.

Divisions

Marusthali: the western, true desert with shifting sand dunes (barchans).
Bagar: the eastern, semi-arid area, more fertile, mostly in the Luni basin.

Features

Barchans (crescent-shaped dunes), longitudinal dunes, playas (dhands), and salt lakes such as Sambhar, Didwana, Pachpadra.
Luni is the only large river (ephemeral; flows into the Rann of Kutch). The Ghaggar is a seasonal river that dries up.
Beyond lie the Rann of Kutch, a vast salt marsh (Great and Little Rann); the Little Rann hosts the Wild Ass Sanctuary.

Economy

Irrigation: the Indira Gandhi Canal (Rajasthan Canal), drawing water from the Harike barrage (Sutlej-Beas), has transformed agriculture; crops include bajra, jowar, pulses; with irrigation, wheat, cotton and mustard.
Energy: wind and solar power (e.g., Bhadla Solar Park); minerals (gypsum, salt, limestone); camel rearing; tourism (Jaisalmer).
Wildlife: Desert National Park; Great Indian Bustard (critically endangered).

Issues: desertification, shifting dunes, water scarcity, salinity and waterlogging along the canal.

Key Points

West of the Aravallis; Rajasthan; rainfall below 150 mm.
Marusthali (western desert) and Bagar (eastern semi-arid).
Luni is the main river; Sambhar is a salt lake.
Indira Gandhi Canal transformed agriculture.
Desert National Park; Great Indian Bustard.

MCQs

Q1. The only major river of the Thar Desert is the:
(a) Luni
(b) Ghaggar
(c) Banas
(d) Chambal Ans:
(a).

Q2. Sambhar is a:
(a) Freshwater lake
(b) Salt lake
(c) Glacial lake
(d) Oxbow lake Ans:
(b).

Q3. The Indira Gandhi Canal starts from the:
(a) Harike barrage
(b) Bhakra dam
(c) Ferozepur headworks
(d) Hirakud dam Ans:
(a).